He may not be Steve Perry, but Arnel Pineda can SING.

In the band's first of three sold-out Honolulu shows last night, Journey, with new lead singer Pineda, brought the goods like it was 1981. And with no opening act, it was a solid two and a half hours of just Journey.

The 23-song set was not the greatest hits show that some casual Journey fans might have been hoping for, but the hits were certainly there, broken up by tracks off of the band's new album, "Revelation." The album is the first with Pineda at the mic, and it's the only Journey material Pineda sings that hasn't been sung before. Even though the audience energy waned a bit when the band performed the new songs — unfamiliar to many, judging by the lack of singing along — it didn't dampen the fervor with which the audience embraced the hits.

Let's talk about "Open Arms." Because for a few minutes on a Wednesday night in Honolulu, there was one thing that thousands of people — all kinds of people, from teenagers to baby boomers to families with kids to the security guard who couldn't help but close his eyes and sing along — had in common, and it was their love for an '80s power ballad called "Open Arms." There wasn't a silent voice in the house, and if there was it was because they weren't there to see Journey, they were there to see PIneda.

The Filipino community came out in numbers to cheer on their native son, and he gave the love right back with his incredible ability to connect with his fans. If he could, he looked them right in their adoring eyes and sang to them as if they were the only people in the room. He threw shakas and yelled "aloha" any time he had the chance, and when he spotted the teenage girl holding her "I heart Arnel Pineda" sign, he flashed her a winning smile, and sang the chorus of "Don't Stop Believin'" right to her. It's no wonder they love him.

As for the rest of the band, there's no mistaking they've been doing this for decades. They are solid and tight and get everything right.

The crowd's energy was at its most electric when the band played "Faithfully," "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Any Way You Want It" back to back in a kind of best-hits medley that turned the Blaisdell Arena into a riot of thrilled screams.

Journey performed on Maui Monday night and will play two more sold-out shows in Honolulu, one tonight and one Saturday night, and one show Sunday night on the Big Island.